ZECHARIAH 14: 16-21
"O WORSHIP THE KING"
[1 John 3:1-3]
Because of the terrible judgment depicted in the preceding verses, overt rebellion of the nations against God and His people has been crushed. Jerusalem will now occupy its proper place as the religious and governmental capital of the world. All the peoples and nations that willingly submit to serve Christ's new theocracy will be blessed. Those who attempt to undermine this world encompassing time of peace will find themselves firmly dealt with and miss the joy and prosperity of Messiah's reign. The blessedness of this time is portrayed in the fact that holiness is no longer profaned by wickedness and the King is given the worship due Him (CIT).
I. THE MECCA OF GOD, 14:16.
II. BLESSINGS & PUNISHMENTS, 14:17-19.
III. THE UNDEFILABLE HOLINESS, 14:20-21.
First let's look at the Mecca of God or the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The nations that have shown hostility toward Jerusalem which culminate in attacking it will need a reminder of God's mercy and victory as verse 16 indicates. "Then it will come about that everyone who is left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem, they will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths (or tabernacles)."
When the millennial kingdom is established on earth the general attendance of mankind in worshiping the King is also required. The phrase "any who is left" is singular in the Hebrew and the phrase "they will go up" is plural. Thus the Hebrew expression stresses the individual and the national responsibility to worship the King.
The phrase any one who is left also implies how wide spread the decimating judgment will be of the wicked preceding the establishment of the Kingdom. These survivors are described as annually pilgrimaging to Jerusalem. Representatives of all the nations will be expected to be there. The purpose of the trip is to worship (lit. "to bow down to") the King, the LORD of Hosts and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This depicts devotion to and respect for the LORD.
Finally Christ will be known and adored as the only Lord, the absolutely unique One, whose name will be the one and only name of deity that will then exist (Zech. 14:9).
The Feast of Booths is the only one of the seven Jewish festivals (Lev. 23:4-44) mentioned in this prophecy as being observed in the Kingdom age (14, 16, 18 &19). The reason may be because this is the only one still unfulfilled at this time since the people are still dwelling in homes made with hands and have not entered into their abode of their eternal reward which is the place that Christ has been preparing for them.
1. The Passover (Lev. 23:4-5) was fulfilled in the death of Christ, the Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7; 1 Peter 1:19).
2. The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:6-8) is fulfilled in the holy walk of believers in fellowship with Christ (2 Cor. 5:6-8; 2 Cor. 7:1; Gal. 5:7-9).
3. The Feast of First Fruits (Lev. 23:9-14) was fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15:23) and the pledge of the Holy Spirit.
4. The Feast of Pentecost (Lev. 23:15-22) was fulfilled in the formation of the Church at Pentecost by the coming of the Spirit. (1 Cor. 10:16, 12:12-13).
5. The Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:23-25) will be fulfilled in the future gathering of the Kingdom (Isa. 18:3,7; 27:12-13; Ezek. 37:1-14).
6. The Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:26-32) was fulfilled by the shedding of Christ's blood on the cross for sin (Heb. 9:22). [Merrill Unger. Prophet of Messiah's Glory. Zondervan. 1963. p 265-6.]
Of them all, only the Feast of Booths will at that time be unfulfilled. [Of the seven, only three, Passover, Pentecost and Booths were pilgrimage festivals (Ex. 23:14-17).] The Feast of Tabernacles commemorates God's protective guidance during the forty years when Israel passed through the desert wilderness on their way to the promised land. It was also a time when they remembered the LORD's on–going bounty to them in the harvest (Lev. 23:39; Deut. 16:13-15). The celebration was a time to pull away from the work a day world and the normal routine of life and remember and give thanks and rejoice in the Lord for His redemptive acts.
Yes, the Feast of Tabernacles was to be a time of grateful rejoicing (Lev. 23:40; Deut. 16:14-15; Neh. 8:17) (as it marked the conclusion of all harvesting in the land and so is also called the Feast of Harvest). During this festival the people lived in "booths" constructed out of branches as a reminder that their ancestors lived in booths in the Wilderness before the Lord brought them into the promised land. It was a reminder of the journey and how the LORD had guided them at that time (Lev. 23:42-43) and their waiting to cross into the promised land.
In that day it will be held as a joyful celebration of God's faithfulness and as a reminder that they have not yet crossed that final Jordan River into the promised land of eternity. They have not yet received their eternal bodies nor do they live in their eternal abode. Thus it is the only unfulfilled feast.
First, The Mecca of God.
Second, BLESSINGS & PUNISHMENTS, 14:17-19.
Worshiping the King and giving thanks for His past faithfulness and future blessings is important, too important to be allowed not to do it. Verse 17 reveals that the rebellious act of not engaging in the worship of the King must be punished. "And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, there will be no rain on them."
Although worshiping Christ and participating in the Feast of Booths is voluntary, there is repercussion for not doing so. He who is the sole object of adoration will demonstrate His displeasure on the people who withhold His due homage by withholding their rain.
It is a righteous action for God to withhold the blessings of grace from those that do not attend and give worship to the Giver of Grace. If we are barren and unfruitful towards God, justly is the sky and earth made so to us. [No rain was also one of the curses for covenant disobedience (Deut. 28:22-24) and God withheld it when Israel disobeyed Him.] Although the rain will be literally withheld it may be also implied as in Ezekiel 34:26 that spiritual blessing are being withheld from the rebellious, from those who refuse to worship the Lord, also.
If the people do not go up and take part, verse 18 indicates that the LORD will inflict plagues on them. "And if the family of Egypt does not go up or enter, then no (rain will fall) on them; it will be the plague with which the LORD smites the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths."
"The family of Egypt" is singled out because of Egypt's symbolic representation of the world and the fleshly nature. Those who, because of their worldly nature, do not worship are symbolically representing Egypt.
Even if a nation has water, like Egypt has the Nile, verse 19 implies that they will still experience punishment for not worshiping the Lord God. "This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths."
The refusal of worldly nations or any others that fail to go up to Jerusalem to worship the King and celebrate the Feast of Booths is the same and therefore deserves the same punishment. The word punishment ( ) hattath is literally sins effects and sins effects can signify the punishment which it brings (Num. 32:23).
The omission or failure to worship God is sin and in that day certain punishment will be given for it. Failure of rain and all its attending problems is just repercussions in the Rod of Iron Rule of The Messiah (Ps. 2:8-12; Rev. 2:27, 12:5, 19:15).
Notice, they are to "go up to" Jerusalem. Again emphasizing the geographical changes in the Holy Land. To go up to Jerusalem will be a glorious privilege as well as a stern duty to the inhabitants of the Millennial earth.
First was The Mecca of Jerusalem. Second was The Rod of Iron Rule and now, THE UNDEFILABLE HOLINESS (14:20-21).
Verse 20 indicates that reminders of consecration to the Lord's service will abounded during this period. "In that day there will (be inscribed) on the bells of the horses "HOLY TO THE LORD." And the cooking pots in the LORD'S House will be like the bowls before the Altar."
Zechariah concludes his grand prophecies of the glorious future on a note of Holiness. The whole nature of the Messianic Kingdom will be characterized by Holiness. The Holy is that which is set apart for God's use. Because of Christ's descent and reign and the Spirit's outpouring there will be greater sanctification which brings about more Holiness than ever before. At that time Holiness will even be extended to the common things that this kingdom of priests and this Holy Nation uses. God's original purpose for Israel will finally be realized (Ex. 19:6).
The engraving "HOLY TO THE LORD" (Qodesh la Yahovah) formerly belonged solely to the gold plate on the turban of the High Priest's sacrificial garments (Ex. 28:36-38). It was an expression and reminder of his consecration to God. "In that day" holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the commonest most every day things. What was once reserved for the highest and holiest position and function imaginable now embraces the common and ordinary things of life, like ornamental "bells of horses."
To further emphasize that life in the Kingdom will be undefiled living, the comparison of the most common cooking pots in the LORD'S House with the most sacred bowls before the Altar is also given. One vessel will be as acceptable as another because they will all be cleansed and dedicated to the Lord. Even the common is holy when it is used for the Lord's service. So it should be with our common daily lives today.
I encourage you from now on that every time you hear a bell, be it a doorbell, a telephone, a buzzer or an alarm clock that you be reminded of the bells on horses in this passage. Think "Holy to the Lord" and pray, "Lord allow me to walk in the holiness that honors your presence with me right now.
Verse 21 continues with the theme that even common things become holy when they are consecrated to the Lord's service or used to bring Him glory. "And every cooking pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the LORD of Hosts; and all who sacrifice will come and take of them and boil in them. And there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of Hosts in that day."
Not only will there no longer be any difference between the sacred and common vessels of the sanctuary but there will no longer be any difference between any cooking pot in Jerusalem with any of the cooking pots "in the house of" God (Joel 3:17).
There will be no longer any unholiness that can corrupt people or things whether once sacred or common. All distinctions between the sacred and the secular shall end because all will be holy.
Holiness in public life is shown in the bells on the horses. Holiness in religious life is shown in the cooking pots in the Lord's House. Holiness in private life is shown in every pot in Jerusalem and Judah being Holy. Even common things become holy when they are used for God's service or sacrifice. So it is with our lives. Though "HOLY TO THE LORD" was engraved on the plate of gold worn on the turban of the High Priest, it was intended to be true for all Israel (Ex. 19:4-6; Jer. 2:3). In that day they will be holy and the former covenant with God will then be fulfilled.
The term Canaanite seems to be used as a figure of a morally and spiritually unclean person. The name stands for the Phoenicians north of Canaan, who were the most noted mariners and merchants of the ancient world. They were know for their ungodly ways, and represent an unholy and ungodly person (Hos. 12:7), anyone not included among the people of God (Isa 35:8; Ezek 43:7; 44:9; Rev 21:27).
In that day the holiness "of the House of God," which is a House of Prayer for the Nations, will be jealously guarded and nothing that defiles or works abomination will be allowed to desecrate it's sanctity. No profane or wicked person will be allowed to desecrate the Holy House of the Lord God by his presence in it. Wolves in sheep's clothing may profane and upset worship and prayer in the Houses of God today, but not in that day.
CONCLUSION
Despite the swift and severe discipline of that day, it will be administered only because God's glorious grace has been rejected or disregarded. For ignorance of the Lord and His ways will no longer be excused. For, "Then it will come about in that day that the Nations will resort to the root of Jesse, who will stand as a signal for the people and His resting place will be glorious" (Isa. 11:10). This declaration was prefaced in Isaiah 11:9 by, "For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea"..
In that day all God's people will be marked as Holy to the LORD. [Remember previously the Beast had marked his people.] Then the Holy Land will actually be Holy and all distinctions between sacred and common will be broken down for all will be set apart for the Lord's service. Like this section of Zechariah, Revelations 11:15 gives the goal toward history is steady moving. "The Kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ: and He will reign forever and ever." The only appropriate response is summed up for us in the Hymn "O Worship the King" (pg. 16).
